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Travel bucket lists are usually dotted with locations like the Maldives, Australia, Norway, Italy and Canada, and for good reason. The UK usually features on travel lists, but in the form of London. It’s rare for other parts of Britain to rank on a travel list, which is a crying shame when you consider one of the four nations that makes up the UK is Scotland, and Scotland is arguably one of the prettiest and most vibrant countries of all!
If you’ve completely overlooked this gem of the North Sea, take a moment to read this article as I take a deep dive into what makes Scotland just so lovely.
The number one draw of Scotland is the sheer beauty of it. Surrounded by the North Sea, Atlantic Ocean and the Irish Sea, coastline is aplenty in Scotland. There is so much to see, and by far the best way to see it is by road-tripping along the North Coast 500 which snakes around the 500 miles of Scottish coastline. Some beaches are perfect for families, such as Aberdeen beach, whilst others are there to be admired and not dug up, like Rockliffe Beach.
Away from the beaches, there’s lots to be appreciated, especially in Edinburgh. What’s more, Scotland is a country of innovation which means you take in the city scenery on cool tech like hoverboard hire.
If there’s one thing Scotland is famous for, it’s Nessie. Many countries have their own folklore stories, like the Wolf Queen of Africa, but you’d be hard pressed to find one as notorious as the Loch Ness Monster. She’s been around since 565 and is said to have a long neck and several humps, a bit like a Brachiosaurus crossed with a camel. She’s haunted the dreams of children for thousands of years and for some, she’s the reason they’re scared of swimming in open water. For all her fear, she’s affectionately loved by all, and there’s lots of locals who will be more than happy to regale her story to you.
Speaking of dinosaurs, it’s highly possible that Nessie could well have come from a Brachiosaurus when you consider the Isle of Skye has literal dino footprints at Staffin. The footprints are said to belong to long necked sauropods, but more recent prints belonging to meat-eating theropods which looked a bit like a T-Rex. The prints are free to see and are well worth it for their sheer scale, especially if you have dinosaur loving children.
Dinosaurs aren’t the only wildlife Scotland has to offer. Whales, dolphins, puffins, deer, eagles and the ever so photogenic highland cows can all be spotted in this wonderous country. Most of the animals reside in the highlands, but whilst you’re on your coastal tour taking in the scenery, keep an eye out for a humpback whale or a bottle nosed dolphin! You can go crabbing in the archipelagos and watch the fish swim around the feet in the lagoons as birds of prey swirl around your head.
There’s a lot of wildlife around Scotland, as we’ve just covered, but it doesn’t just look nice – it tastes nice, too! Scotland is known for its stunningly tender beef and bitingly fresh fish. What’s
more, most restaurants around Scotland will serve fresh food sourced from the country itself, meaning wherever you choose to eat, you’re likely to be served only the finest meat and vegetables.
So, will you be putting Scotland on your travel bucket list now? If so, you won’t be disappointed!
This is a collaborative post.
Welcome to Birds and Lilies! I'm Lou: mother, blogger and freelance writer. This is my lifestyle blog, where I talk about motherhood, infertility and IVF, beauty, my love for food and wine, as well as my thoughts about stuff, and our real-life and travel adventures.
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